And the Verdict on Toll Bros.' Gowanus Project Is...
No verdict. Last night’s CB6 meeting focused on the Toll Brothers’ request for a spot-rezoning of the two-acre parcel along the Gowanus Canal (the whole neighborhood is up for a massive rezoning, but the developers don’t want to wait for that, which could take a heckuva long time). The variance would allow them to erect…
No verdict. Last night’s CB6 meeting focused on the Toll Brothers’ request for a spot-rezoning of the two-acre parcel along the Gowanus Canal (the whole neighborhood is up for a massive rezoning, but the developers don’t want to wait for that, which could take a heckuva long time). The variance would allow them to erect 460 units of housing, 140 of which will be permanently affordable, in buildings that range from four stories to 12. Therein lies the problem for many a community member: 12 is too big, they say. Everyone digs the affordable housing, the green space (they’re making a 40-foot wide park along the canal) and the creation of union jobs, however temporary. But why, they asked, if Carroll Gardens is getting down-zoned, should Gowanus be up-zoned? And, oh, what about the filthy canal? One Community Board member suggested we get people living around it first; that way, there will be more constituents there to complain. Too many folks abstained from voting to get an answer, so the vote will happen at the next CB6 meeting, in October.
Toll Brothers’ Gowanus Rezoning Certified by DCP [Brownstoner]
The Next Unveiling of Toll Brothers’ Gowanus [Brownstoner]
Reps From Toll Brothers Detail Big Development [Brownstoner]
An abstention counts the same as a ‘no’ vote. Only affirmative votes count towards passage of a motion. So, that said, what was the vote Lisa?
Unless you can see something I don’t, check this view:
http://bstoner.wpengine.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/09/the_next_unveil.php?gallery725Pic=4#gallery-725
of course, this is the developer’s model, but if it’s correct,the 12-story buildings front the canal, the 6-st front Bond. There are not many houses on 1st and 2nd, and one parking lot block on Bond and existing building fronts 1st anyway.
If the few 4 story houses on Bond are “in the shadows” of this gigantic project, you’re more NIMBY than I could’ve imagined anyone could be.
CMU, this project is across the street from all of the homes that run along neighboring 1st, 2nd, and Carroll Streets, not 4 blocks away. It is basically in people’s backyard, casting shadows over their houses, being built up on a “small hill” they plan on constructing, with a plan to help clean up the canal by building a gigantic building complex right on it… Swell.
Even as an avid opponent of AY because of its scale and out-of-context-ness, I would support this. It’s a much smaller parcel, there are more amenities per acre, 12 stories 4 blocks away from any major residential is hardly a problem.
And if Toll thinks the Gowanus is not a problem, as evidenced by this project, why should CB6?